In the tightest states, new voting laws could tip the outcome in November • Alaska Beacon

With the outcome expected to be close, the “swing states” as they are called are often a bellwether for the country.

Some swing states cemented temporary pandemic-era measures that allowed for more mail-in and early voting.

But other battleground states have passed laws that may keep some registered voters from casting ballots.

Arizona , Nevada and Michigan have seen a bigger expansion to ballot access over the past four years .

Republicans tried to curtail access to absentee voting, introducing 39 bills in 2021 .

Michigan voters approved ballot measures that added nine days of early voting and increased ballot drop boxes.

Drop boxes weren’t controversial in Wisconsin until Trump became fixated on them as an avenue for alleged fraud.

In July , the new liberal majority in the state’s high court reversed the ruling and said localities could determine whether to use drop boxes.

Milwaukee city employees were quickly dispatched throughout the city to remove the leather bags that covered the drop boxes for two years .

The boxes are especially convenient for rural voters, who may have a clerk's office or post office with shorter hours .